As weary soldiers fought lengthy battles across devastated ground, 1917 called for selfless heroes, medical progress, technological advancement and a new form of art to help the public comprehend the reality of a relentless modern war. The innovation demanded by a newly industrialised war is explored in The Royal Mint’s First World War Six-Coin Set for 2017, with six new coins continuing our journey from Outbreak to Armistice.

By the fourth year of the First World War, both sides were deadlocked in trench warfare. Advancement in areas from medicine to machinery proved vital in ending the conflict the following year, while many of the innovations during this time, such as blood banks and plastic surgery, benefit public healthcare to this day.

This is the fourth six-coin set in the series, with each intricate coin design and emotive inscription paying tribute to their subjects. The accompanying booklet reveals the story that inspired each coin including the bravery of Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse VC, the dedication of the medical services and the cultural importance of the war artist. The Sopwith Camel, the newly engineered plane that claimed the skies, is joined by a haunting depiction of the horror of gas warfare and a final design.